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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Residents challenge Google camera | Residents challenge Google camera |
| (1 day later) | |
| Angry residents in Milton Keynes blocked the driver of a Google Street View car when he started taking photographs of their homes. | Angry residents in Milton Keynes blocked the driver of a Google Street View car when he started taking photographs of their homes. |
| Police were called to Broughton after residents staged the protest, accusing Google of invading their privacy and "facilitating crime". | Police were called to Broughton after residents staged the protest, accusing Google of invading their privacy and "facilitating crime". |
| Councillor John Bint told the BBC the camera mounted on a car was intrusive and people should have been consulted. | Councillor John Bint told the BBC the camera mounted on a car was intrusive and people should have been consulted. |
| Google said it observed UK law and only filmed from public areas. | Google said it observed UK law and only filmed from public areas. |
| The company also said it had consulted various police forces and provided the means for residents to have their home removed from the service. | The company also said it had consulted various police forces and provided the means for residents to have their home removed from the service. |
| 'Step too far' | 'Step too far' |
| Mr Bint said: "When a scene is viewed from street level it is acceptable but this camera is intrusive because it can peer into gardens and into the windows of homes. | Mr Bint said: "When a scene is viewed from street level it is acceptable but this camera is intrusive because it can peer into gardens and into the windows of homes. |
| "That is a step too far and Google should stop taking pictures in this way. | "That is a step too far and Google should stop taking pictures in this way. |
| "They should consult with residents about what exactly they are going to do and provide a right of appeal." | "They should consult with residents about what exactly they are going to do and provide a right of appeal." |
| The Street View mapping project allows for 360-degree views of roads and homes using footage taken by a camera mounted on a car. | The Street View mapping project allows for 360-degree views of roads and homes using footage taken by a camera mounted on a car. |
| Resident Paul Jacobs said Street View was an invasion of privacy | Resident Paul Jacobs said Street View was an invasion of privacy |
| Resident Paul Jacobs was one of the first residents in the village, which is part of Milton Keynes, to challenge the Google car. | Resident Paul Jacobs was one of the first residents in the village, which is part of Milton Keynes, to challenge the Google car. |
| Mr Jacobs said he saw the vehicle driving past his home on Wednesday and his first reaction was one of anger. | Mr Jacobs said he saw the vehicle driving past his home on Wednesday and his first reaction was one of anger. |
| "I don't have a problem with Google wanting to promote villages. What I have a problem with is the invasion of privacy, taking pictures directly into the home," he said. | "I don't have a problem with Google wanting to promote villages. What I have a problem with is the invasion of privacy, taking pictures directly into the home," he said. |
| "Google have taken a tremendous liberty in the way they've gone about it. | "Google have taken a tremendous liberty in the way they've gone about it. |
| "If they were simply going to view the street as a street scene rather than drive almost into people's drives and take pictures of the houses - I think that's a different issue." | "If they were simply going to view the street as a street scene rather than drive almost into people's drives and take pictures of the houses - I think that's a different issue." |
| Thames Valley Police said: "A squad car was sent to Broughton at 1020 BST on Wednesday to reports of a dispute between a crowd of people and a Google Street View contractor. | Thames Valley Police said: "A squad car was sent to Broughton at 1020 BST on Wednesday to reports of a dispute between a crowd of people and a Google Street View contractor. |
| The village was also featured in the local papers yesterday and much of the national press this morning. So how private is this place now? Rory Cellan-Jones's blog | The village was also featured in the local papers yesterday and much of the national press this morning. So how private is this place now? Rory Cellan-Jones's blog |
| "A member of the public had called us to report that he, along with a number of others, were standing in the middle of the road preventing the car from moving forwards and taking photographs. | "A member of the public had called us to report that he, along with a number of others, were standing in the middle of the road preventing the car from moving forwards and taking photographs. |
| "They felt his presence was an intrusion of their privacy. When police arrived at the scene, the car had moved on." | "They felt his presence was an intrusion of their privacy. When police arrived at the scene, the car had moved on." |
| Google's Peter Barron said the system contained "simple tools" which allowed people to remove images of their house. | Google's Peter Barron said the system contained "simple tools" which allowed people to remove images of their house. |
| He said: "Many, many millions of people have used the service very happily, and it's proved very useful. | He said: "Many, many millions of people have used the service very happily, and it's proved very useful. |
| "But we do recognise that a small minority of people won't feel comfortable about it." | "But we do recognise that a small minority of people won't feel comfortable about it." |